Date: 5/31/2440 Time: 12:07 AM CST
“Leonard, I see you’re burning the candle at both ends too.”
“I was hoping for an update before I caught some sleep.”
“Then I’ll make this short. Things are going well. When the rest of the convoy arrives, keep them in orbit, but allow shuttle flights to and from my location. They need to see their people are safe. It’s a gesture of goodwill.”
“What does that buy us?”
“Time. The most expensive commodity there is. I suggest a joint engineering mission to inspect their ships and talk to their crews. We can’t realistically keep all of this to ourselves. Better to play for time and get a head start.”
“Are you advising them?”
“Yes. I stand to gain from helping the socially elevated families in the officer corps. I’m aiming for a fair deal. In the end, they’ll make an agreement with Amazon that benefits all of us, including the full million refugees.”
“There are really that many?”
“Yes. The grounded ship alone lost about twelve percent of its people in the pirate attack and still carries roughly one hundred twenty thousand. Two-thirds are children, most with family. Around sixty-five percent are laborers, half with technical training—their equivalent of community college. Many bring years of practical experience. About fifteen thousand have master’s or doctoral-level education, and more than a thousand served as university instructors.”
“No criminals or malcontents in the mix?”
“No. Those types are reportedly sent to mine gas giants in their home system—think Jupiter, but five times larger. Life expectancy there is short. These aren’t exiles; they’re relocations. Their society runs a population lottery to assign groups to colony worlds. The officer families lost planetary residency to show the process isn’t just class-based. They’re politically connected, but not powerful. That gives us long-term leverage.”
“How so?” Leonard asked.
“Most have never stepped foot on a planetary surface, never seen open sky. Leonard, we have sky. And land. I’m working on a plan to bring stability back to the continental interior. You and I, we’re tired soldiers. If I’d stayed in uniform, I’d be right where you are now. But I see a path ahead, one that doesn’t involve bombing every problem into submission.”
“That would be nice. You’re right, I’m a tired old man. Maybe I should retire and be the grumpy neighbor on the next farm over. I think my wife would be thrilled.”
“Then bring her out here. Bring a military aide too, we’ll set up a face-to-face meeting so you can report back to Amazon in a way they’ll trust. You’ll also get a full briefing on the galactic bad guys. Your wife can relax, we’ve got a riding stable, river trips, antique shops. Missouri hospitality.”
“Got room for teenagers?” Leonard chuckled.
“I’m guessing they go to some posh academy back East. I can give them something their friends will envy—the chance to meet V’ren teenagers. First contact as extra credit.”
“You really sell this well,” Leonard said.
“I’m a hell of a salesman. I sold the board on rejecting my recall, didn’t I?”
“I’ll have to ask how you pulled that off, in person.”
